Creating Partnerships in the
Prevention of Delinquency
The ProAction Cops & Kids and Centennial College’s Community &
Justice Services Program Experiment
October 27th, 2011
Centennial’s Vision & Mission
Statement
• To educate students for career
success.
• We make every decision to
support the career and personal
development of our learners. Our
curriculum, teaching and services
demonstrate that we value the
diverse profiles of our learners.
• Transforming lives and
communities through learning.
Our Book of Commitments
• Encourage Partnerships: We encourage
sustainable relationships that enrich student
learning, augment job readiness and provide our
graduates with the knowledge and skills to succeed
in work and society. We seek a range of partners
who are sensitive to socio-cultural needs, support
our institutional objectives and contribute to our
community.
Signature Learning Experience
• The Signature Learning Experience (SLE) reflects the
College's promise to students of a distinctive, inclusive
educational experience that builds on a foundation of
global citizenship, social justice and diversity. Centennial
College students have an opportunity to learn about these
concepts, develop their critical thinking and analysis skills,
and participate in meaningful projects.
Signature Learning Experience
• Student Portfolio Learning
Students of the SLE engage in transformative education
and, through their learning, discover how to make positive
changes in their lives and their communities. The SLE
Portfolio Project allows SLE students to develop their
reflective skills by documenting their personal, career and
social growth in the areas of global citizenship, social
justice and diversity. Each semester, students develop an
artifact or evidence that demonstrates their growth in these
areas.
Global Citizenship
• To be a citizen in the global sense means recognizing that we
must all be aware of our use of the world's resources and find
ways to live on the earth in a sustainable way. When we see
others are treated without justice, we know that we are
responsible for trying to ensure that people are treated
equitably and must have equal opportunities as fellow
citizens of this world. We must think critically about what we
see, hear and say, and ensure that our actions bring about
positive changes.
Community & Justice Services
Program (CJSP)
• 2 year diploma program
• 120 first year students
• Approximately 100 2nd year students
• The program prepares students to work with atrisk populations in a variety of criminal justice and
community services settings such as correctional
institutions, community centers, open and secure
facilities for young persons, behavioural
classrooms in schools, etc.
Community & Justice Services
Program (CJSP)
Building Community Partnerships Course Description
Building Community Partnerships is an applied course that will provide
students with an overview of the steps involved in developing new
programs or projects. Utilizing a team approach, students will have the
opportunity to build their own projects/programs from inception to
implementation. Teams will vision, plan and research program options of
their choice, develop proposals consisting of clear and concise goals and
build partnerships and support for their project through effective marketing.
Project sustainability will be demonstrated through budget and fundraising
plan development as well as maintaining established partnerships through
proper recognition, evaluation and reporting on successes.
Community & Justice Services
Program (CJSP)
Building Community Partnership Learning
Outcomes:
1. Design crime prevention & intervention
strategies (programs)
2. Identify & access appropriate resources for
clients
3. Examine fundraising, marketing and outreach
strategies
ProAction Cops & Kids
• ProAction Cops & Kids is a charity that funds programs, developed and
run by police officers, to reach youth in their communities. The goal is to
build mutual trust and respect between cops and kids, breaking down
stereotypes and improving the safety of communities for everyone.
Chapters have been established in Durham, Hamilton and Toronto.
• The organization has been a catalyst for advancing community policing
and supporting the delivery of new programs that build positive
relationships between cops, kids and the community. This year
ProAction is celebrating 20 years of funding innovative Toronto Police
Service youth programs over $4.5 million to more than 1000 programs
has been provided allowing officers to reach out to over 350,000 youth.
ProAction Cops & Kids
• Policing is not just enforcement, it is building trust and
respect in the community to ensure that citizens will come
forward and mobilize together for a safer environment for all.
• ProAction Cops & Kids programs are a tool for hundreds of
officers, many of whom run programs on their own time.
Units such as Community Mobilization Unit and the
Community Response Unit in each division rely on these
programs as they are instrumental in building trust and
respect which helps all officers do their jobs.
ProAction Cops & Kids
• Programs see officers camping on weekends with local
kids, playing ball on courts with teams of at-risk youth and
spearheading after-school activities designed to keep kids
engaged, optimistic and motivated.
• ProAction is a registered charity, entirely independent from
any police service. ProAction is not a United Way member
agency and receives no government funding. Programs
are funded solely due to the generosity of individuals,
corporations and family foundations and the efforts of
fundraising events.
ProAction Cops & Kids
• In 2010 ProAction provided just over
$480,000 for 110 police-youth programs in
Toronto
• Grants average about $3000 but can range
from a few hundred to over $25,000.
The ProAction Mission
• ProAction Cops & Kids believes that establishing
a positive relationship between cops and at-risk
kids will strengthen our community today and for
the future. By funding programs that bring local
cops and kids together, we help create an
environment that aims to promote mutual
understanding and respect.
ProAction Programs
• All programs involve one or more police officers who act as
program managers, role models, mentors, coaches,
teachers, friendly advisers, esteem builders and
approachable adults.
• Police officers identify the needs of the youth in the
communities they patrol. Police officers plan programs to
address those needs and approach ProAction for funding. To
qualify for ProAction funding the program must involve both
youth and officers and they must promote improved
relationships between police officers and at-risk youth.
ProAction Programs
• There are no application deadlines. All applications submitted first go to
the police liaison officer who reviews the application to ensure it meets
the police service standards. Applications are then reviewed by the
Grants Committee comprised of community volunteers. Once the
application has received a majority vote it is approved.
• After completion of the program, police officers submit a Program Report
and receipts. The report provides an accounting of what happened with
the program and any suggestions for similar programs in the future. The
report is also used as a reference when future applications are received.
Funding Criteria – Toronto
Chapter
1. Programs must be driven by officers of the Toronto Police
Service. Police-youth interaction must be integral to the
program structure. The expectation for one day programs is a
ratio of 50 youth to 1 officer or better. The expectation for
weekend programs is a ratio of 20 youth to 1 officer or better.
2. Programs must influence youth who are at risk, in the short
or long term, from developing an undesirable lifestyle and help
to promote pro-social attitudes through skills development,
positive social interaction, mentoring, etc.
Funding Criteria – Toronto
Chapter
3. Grants may cover costs such as facility rentals,
equipment, snacks, awards, materials, and fees for youth
and Toronto Police officers to take part in programs.
ProAction does not normally fund salaries, honorariums,
administration, or compensation for individuals – police or
civilian. .
4. ProAction funds programs that take place within the
province of Ontario.
Funding Criteria – Toronto
Chapter
5. Police-initiated one-day events (i.e. Division picnics, open
houses, etc.) are normally eligible for up to $500 in funding.
6. Police officers may partner with community agencies or
schools who may provide administrative support, referrals to
youth, etc. If a program is initiated by a school or community
agency with fundraising capacity and run by the police,
ProAction will consider matching the funds provided by the
school or community agency. Funds eligible for matching
grants exclude in-kind donations (i.e. facilities, salaries,
honourariums, etc.)
Background
• The Community & Justices Services Program offers a 15
week course in 3rd semester called Building Community
Partnerships (BCP). This course focuses on creating
community partnerships through program and proposal
development processes.
• Interested officers partner with 2nd year students in
Building Community Partnerships and develop ideas into
programs that students and the officers present before the
grants committee in an effort to secure funding to deliver
the programs in the high risk neighbourhoods previously
identified by the officers
Background
• In the fall of 2009, a collaboration was established between
Centennial’s CJS program and ProAction Cops & Kids and
the Toronto Police Service to provide students with the
practical experience of proposal and program development.
• The intention of this partnership was to have BCP students
work with Toronto Police Officers to create program
proposals in accordance with ProAction criteria. Completed
proposals would then be submitted by participating officers
to ProAction’s Grants Committee for funding consideration.
If approved, the programs would be implemented by the
Toronto Police Service.
Background
• Students’ grades for BCP were not to be
affected by the outcome of the Grants
Committee’s review of the proposals
submitted and whether or not proposals
were granted funding and implemented.
The Partnership
• ProAction Cops & Kids partnered with Centennial
College's Community & Justice Services Program to
develop youth programs that will bring cops and kids in
high risk neighbourhoods together in appropriate and fun
activities. ProAction’s mission “to create an environment
of mutual understanding and respect” fits perfectly with
the mission of the Community & Justice Services
Program which is to prepare students for “working with
people at risk” as part of Centennial’s larger vision of
“transforming lives and communities through learning”.
Commitments
Toronto Police Services
• Inspector to find 12 officers to assign to the project
• A point person in community mobilization unit will be assigned
• Police officers will be made available for a 2 hour class in
September and be available to the students via email or phone
on a consultative basis as the program outline is developed
Commitments
ProAction
• Executive Director acted as the main contact for the organization
• ProAction provided all necessary information on the grants programs
including criteria, best practices and application process
• Executive Director made a presentation on ProAction to the students at
the beginning of the semester and was to be part of a panel when
students presented their proposals at the end of the semester
• Grants committee agreed to review the proposals once submitted by
officers for implementation
Commitments
Centennial Faculty
• Ensured Executive Director and grants committee were
kept up to date on the types of programs being
developed
• Develop protocols from this pilot for future years
• Provided ProAction with copies of all the completed
proposals
Course Structure
• Groups consisted of 6-8 students who worked directly with a
designated police officer. The group designated a team
lead who was primarily responsible for all correspondence
with the police officer
• Survey was conducted targeted at identifying strengths
related to proposal writing
• Individuals were asked to rate themselves based on skill
level and/or comfort in areas such as public speaking, use of
computers, organizational ability, budgeting, etc.
Course Structure
• Each group was given two weeks to develop 3-4 program
ideas
• They then met with their designated officer to brainstorm
and determine the best program option with the officer’s
input
• Students spent the next eight weeks developing the
program and the program proposal
• Students and officers were then to present their proposals to
the grants committee for funding consideration
Course Structure
Wikis
• Groups were given Wikis as a way of communicating with
each other outside of classroom time
• Each person was given a responsibility depending on
previously identified strengths
–Ex. Marketing was a door in the Wiki with that person’s name on it
• Had to build entire proposal within the Wiki
• Only hard copy was final proposal submitted at end of the
semester
• Each week a lecture was given on 1 to 2 sections of the
proposal then students were given assignments to work on
in their Wikis to develop their initial drafts
Program Development and Proposal
Consisted of the Following:
• Program description/rationale
• Program objectives
• Target group
• Program design and implementation
• Marketing (target community resources & involvement)
• Fundraising/community awareness
• Budget
• Publicity/media
• Program evaluation
• Presentation of their proposal to the grants committee
Outcomes ProAction
Perspective
• The first attempt at this pilot occurred during the 2010-2011
academic school year. Unfortunately, due to several
challenges, none of the proposals prepared by students
were initiated by officers or submitted to ProAction for
funding. Through preliminary discussions, some of the
challenges identified included:
1. Conflicting class and officer schedules resulting in limited
opportunities for officers to meet with students and establish
a partnership.
Outcomes ProAction
Perspective
2. Participating officers went on vacation, were reassigned or
transferred to new departments and had to be replaced with
new officers. Students experienced challenges adjusting to
new officers who may not have had the same program
interests as previous participating officers.
3. Insufficient understanding by many students of the role of
police as partners and therefore, officers recruited were not
interested in implementing some of the projects/proposals
designed by the student.
Outcomes ProAction
Perspective
4. Some officers recruited were not familiar with ProAction.
5. Applications prepared for ProAction were not responsive to
questions presented and lacked material information required
for funding to be approved.
• Building on lessons learned from the first year, partners
involved in this collaboration expressed interested in
pursuing a second attempt at this pilot for the 2011-2012
academic year.
Outcomes Centennial
Perspective
Time
• 2 hour class not enough time to engage community,
partnerships, etc.
• Often interfered with placement
Red Tape
• Issues around police being able to handle money
raised through additional fundraising events
• Participation of officers in events leading up to
completion of proposal
Outcomes Centennial
Perspective
Red Tape
• Conflicting officer schedules and interests
• Officers were assigned as opposed to volunteering
affecting motivation
Conflicting Interests
• Meeting the needs of curriculum vs meeting needs of
ProAction’s grants committee
– i.e. Police driven initiative vs. student driven initiatives
Student Feedback
•
•
•
•
Overall, students loved the experience
Want to see it done in the community with fewer
restrictions and more creativity/autonomy
Want to pick own organizations
Want to use ProAction as a funding source, not the
exclusive one
Collaboration
•Centennial Faculty
–Shelley Upshaw
–Judy Hermann
–Jean Milligan
•Virginia DiRoma
–ProAction Executive Director